Wednesday, May 21, 2014

Fargo: Only Four More Episodes

I already wrote a post about Fargo (the FX miniseries) after the pilot episode, but I have to beat this dead horse one more time. Last night's episode — the sixth out of ten — was just sooo good, I can't say enough about it. At first I thought the miniseries might get too gimmicky. Ten hours of Scandihoovian accents and caricatures of people who are so preoccupied with the weather forecast that they don't even notice when all Hell is breaking loose right in front of them?!No such luck. I'm usually reluctant to use superlatives, but at this point in the miniseries, I think Fargo is the best thing the Coen brothers have ever done — they're the executive producers of the series — and Billy Bob Thornton's most incredible acting/writing/directing performance ever. I know that's saying a lot; that's my story and I'm sticking to it.

We've all seen a few actors who project a certain unsettling quiet intensity. Billy Bob Thornton's character — Lorne Malvo — takes this to a whole new level. The ice cold laser-focus intensity projected by Lorne Malvo is enough to make a TV viewer cringe.Until last night, I thought the Fargo miniseries was good but nothing unique — just another action comedy featuring the Coen brothers' dark humor. But last night's episode had it all: intricate plot twists, unbearable white-knuckle suspense, gut-busting hilarity — sometimes all at once.I don't know how Fargo is doing in the ratings. It doesn't matter anyway, since this is a one-time miniseries with no second season in the works. If you're not already watching this show, do yourself a huge favor and check it out (Wednesdays on FX, 10 p.m.).

SM: I agree it's fabulous. The TV series has taken the movie version of Fargo and expanded on it the way a jazz musician can take a simple tune and expand it into a whole new deeper level. Definitely worth buying the series DVD.

Jess: I was just starting to think the series was getting stale and they couldn't possibly keep up the interest level. But last Tuesday, Episode 6, the intensity went through the roof. I'm guessing these last 4 episodes will be super edge-of-your-seat nail biters.